Science for science sake

Everyone is no doubt familiar with the phrase ‘Art for Art’s Sake’, coined in the early 1800s in France and taken to mean that the creation of art needs no purpose or objective, other than simply existing. I think we can all recognise that even the greatest artistic creations, from the Mona Lisa to Beethoven’s Fifth, didn’t need to be created, but humanity can be pleased that they were.

The question is, could the same be said about science? I would maintain that not only could it be said, but that we are doing humanity a disservice by not saying it often and forcefully enough. This is especially true in the modern context of science denial and bogus conspiracy theories, which gain traction partly due to a suspicion of the pursuit of science and its motives. It can be seen often in throwaway comments such as “what was the point of going to the moon?”, when in fact, even a cursory internet search reveals that so many of the things we take for granted these days, from cordless tools to fabrics and protective gear, were given a huge helping hand by the driving forces behind the NASA missions.

My own personal anecdote about pursuing science ‘just for the sake of it’ encapsulates perfectly the benefits that such a philosophy can bring to the world.

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